21 Jump Street: Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum Confirmed as Stars

Published: December 3, 2010

Jonah Hill and Tatum Channing have been confirmed as the stars of the upcoming 21 Jump Street feature film. Both actors, who’ve been long rumored to be involved, will also serve as executive producers.

The feature is being directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller with a script written by Michael Bacall. Hill and Bacall previously worked on an early treatment of the script together. The original TV series, which ran on FOX from 1987 until 1991, is a drama while this new movie will be a comedy.

Of the project, Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad said, “Jonah helped create a smart and funny vehicle that is tailor-made for him and Channing. They are a perfect duo for this film and Phil and Chris have a terrific, accessible take on the material. We love how this movie has come together and are very excited to begin production this spring.”

Neal H. Moritz serves as producer with the late Stephen J. Cannell. The co-creator and an executive producer on the original TV series, Cannell will receive posthumous credit.

There’s been talk about Johnny Depp, who got his big break on the original 21 Jump Street series, might have a small role or cameo but there’s been nothing new on that front. Tatum and Channing will be playing new characters so Depp could potentially appear as his persona from the show, Tom Hanson.

What do you think? Does this project interest you? If you liked the original TV show, does the comedic approach bother you?

I absoloutly HATE this idea. I have seen the show a million times and I’m in highschool!
I don’t think this will turn out well; and I WON’T be going to see this when it comes out. This upsets me in another way; 21 Jumpstreet is being treated like it’s a joke! The TV show was a serious drama filled with drugs and violence and real-life situations….Now it’s going to be a comedy? Bad idea.

The comedic concept bothers me. Jumpstreet shined light on some very serious subjects of the time including gangs, drug use, alchohol abuse, and realtionship violence. The comedic approach is a joke and not true to the hard work of the writers, actors, produces, etc that made the *0’s show a hit. But a Depp cameo would make me want to go see it.